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Operator Connect licensing

​Operator Connect : Licensing considerations and options explained

Prerequisites for Operator Connect services: 

 

The realm of Office 365 licensing can often prove intricate. Navigating through the plethora of available applications, features, and supplementary offerings can rapidly evolve into a convoluted process, especially when delving into the diverse voice services options.

 

Within this landscape, Microsoft extends its own Calling Plan, presenting Operator Connect and Direct Routing* as two distinct avenues to accommodate your personalized PSTN carrier.

 

Deciding upon the appropriate license to access Operator Connect hinges upon your company's unique requirements. This decision holds paramount importance in order to avoid either missing out on essential services or overspending on features that may not be applicable. Fortunately, both of these scenarios are preventable.

 

It's noteworthy that Operator Connect is exclusively accessible through specific Office 365 licenses. Not all alternatives offer the capability to seamlessly integrate PSTN via your favored vendor, and in some instances, accessibility to Microsoft Teams might even be subject to limitations.

 

To simplify these license intricacies and guide you toward an informed choice within the realm of Office 365 Operator Connect alternatives, we delve into these variations further. 

 

Read on to identify the exact licensing that perfectly aligns with your company's needs.

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First Technology Operator Connect Plans

 

We’ve made it easier than ever for any business to deploy Operator Connect. Currently, we offer three plans:

 

Basic : A simple, usage-based plan designed for businesses looking to make calls from Teams.

 

Standard : Preferred plan for E5 customers.

 

Pro : A more robust plan that includes the phone system licensing.

What every company will need

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Every company must meet the bare minimum requirements to use Operator Connect regardless of the specific license. 

 

These include the following:

 

  • Microsoft Teams (Included in most 365 plans, but not all)

  • Teams Phone System

  • Agreement with an Operator Connect provider

 

 

Microsoft must approve your provider to use Operator Connect. Unlike Direct Routing, only certain telco operators have met Microsoft’s criteria, so double-check the official Microsoft directory (LINK) before signing up with a new carrier.

 

You should also keep in mind that your Operator Connect plan and Office 365 licenses are two separate agreements.

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Add-on Licensing

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  • To assist you in choosing the correct type of phone numbers, read Different kinds of phone numbers used for Calling Plans and services.

 

  • Note that Teams Phone Resource Account licenses are required for Auto Attendants and Call Queues inside Teams Phone System. In most cases Microsoft provide these licenses at zero cost.

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View Our Plans Here

Operator connect plans from First Technology are designed to align with your business requirements.

For small to medium size businesses


Organizations not quite at the enterprise level can save money by exploring entry-level business licenses. 

The grand total is $20.50 per user per month at the minimum level; let’s break that down:

 

  • The Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan (LINK) gives you access to Teams with a base price of $6 per user per month. However, this license will only provide web and mobile apps. You’ll need the Business Standard license for the desktop versions, which runs $12.50.

 

  • Next, you’ll need the Phone System add-on, which costs an additional $8 per user per month. 

 

  • Lastly, you need the PSTN Operator Connect/Direct Routing add-on, tacking on another $6.50 per month. 

For enterprises

 

Microsoft offers several Enterprise licenses (LINK) but organizations will need either the E3 or E5 license to use Operator Connect. The minimal F3 license won’t be sufficient for using Operator Connect.

 

How much do these licenses cost?

 

The Office 365 E3 license:

 

  • $36 per user per month (LINK)

  • $8 per user per month for Phone System (LINK)

  • $6.5 per user per month for PSTN Operator Connect/Direct Routing add-on

 

You’ll pay $50.50 monthly per user to enable phone calling capabilities within Microsoft Teams

 

The Office 365 E5 license:

 

  • $57 per user per month, which includes Phone System

  • $6.5 per user per month for PSTN Operator Connect/Direct Routing add-on

 

The total: $63.50 per user per month to enable phone calling capabilities in Teams.

Note: All specific prices mentioned were accurate at the publish date; refer to the official Microsoft website for current pricing.

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Do you need the E3 or E5 license?

 

What’s the real difference between these two levels? As far as voice services and Operator Connect are concerned, they’re the same. The only difference is that the Phone System is included in E5 rather than sold as an add-on. 

 

But there are other differences to understand before signing up. 

 

The E5 license includes additional features you may need, such as:

 

  • Microsoft 365 Defender for Cloud Apps, Endpoint P2, and Identity

  • Robust compliance management

  • Azure Active Directory Premium Plan 2

  • Power BI Pro, an advanced analytics application

 

Does your enterprise require any of those features?

 

If not, E3 will give you Operator Connect without the added costs.

Embark On Your Journey Towards An Empowering Microsoft Phone System.

Login to Teams Admin Center 

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Start by logging into the Microsoft Teams Admin Center for your company. Next, select “Operator Connect” under Voice solutions.

1

Complete Registration 

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Select  First Technology from the list of Operator Connect providers. From there, set your organization size, fill in your contact information, accept the data privacy terms, and click “Add as my Operator” to complete this step.

2

Give Consent

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Once your account has been validated and granted access — it’s time to authorize your Microsoft Office 365 account to pair with Operator Connect. Click “Provide Access” and select “Operator Connect.”

3

Provision Operator Connect

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Follow the instructions and login to the First Technology portal using your Microsoft account to complete this step. You can then begin selecting your services for activation

4

Simple pricing

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We offer simple, straightforward package pricing. Pay per user per month service model limits CapEx spending.

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Deploy quickly

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If you already have Microsoft Teams, you can quickly setup Operator Connect. It’s even faster if you choose new numbers.

Training and support

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We provide 24 x 7 technical support and user adoption training. Achieve faster business results and maximize your Return on Investment (ROI).

Resilience

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Direct peering through Microsoft Azure Peering Service (MAPS) establishes a trusted 1:1 network connection, bolstering resilience.

First Technology is an accredited Operator Connect provider

 

Do you have a better understanding of which license you actually need?

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The next step is evaluating different Operator Connect plans* to find the right one for your organization’s needs.

First Technology is an approved Operator Connect provider with over a decade of providing flawless telecom experiences to our customers. 

 

Our infrastructure provides a high uptime guarantee.

We provide all this value at competitive rates across  South Africa — all backed by world-class support.

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